Alcoholism
URL of this page:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholism.htmlAlso called: Also called: Alcohol dependence
For most adults, moderate alcohol use is not harmful. However, nearly 17.6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems. Alcoholism is a disease with four main features:
* Craving - a strong need to drink
* Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
* Physical dependence – withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
* Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get “high”
Alcoholism carries many serious dangers. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs. It can cause birth defects. It increases the risk of death from car crashes and other injuries as well as the risk of homicide and suicide.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Start Here
* FAQ' s on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/General-English/Overviews
* Alcoholism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) -
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcoholism/DS00340/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all * Faces of Change: Do I Have a Problem with Alcohol or Drugs?Easy-to-Read(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Large PDF file -
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/TIP35.pdf * JAMA Patient Page: Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism(American Medical Association) -
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/17/2100.pdf Also available in Spanish
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/295/17/2100/DC1/1Latest News
* Genetic Trait Linked to Alcoholism(11/20/2008, HealthDay) -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71909.html * Memantine Effective for Alcohol Dependence And Depression(11/07/2008, Reuters Health) -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71369.html * Pediatricians Could Help Screen for Alcohol Abuse in Home(11/04/2008, HealthDay) -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71235.html * More News on Alcoholism
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#alcoholismTreatment
* NewAlcohol and Drug Treatment: How It Works, and How It Can Help You(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF -
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/CJA_ConsumerBrochure.pdf * Co-Occurring Disorders: Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/cooccurring/consumers.asp Also available in Spanish
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/cooccurring/espanol1.asp * Quick Guide to Finding Effective Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://csat.samhsa.gov/faqs.aspx * Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment(American Psychological Association) -
http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=45 Also available in Spanish
http://www.centrodeapoyoapa.org/articulos/articulo.php?id=45 * What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Large PDF file -
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/WhatIsTx.pdf Also available in Spanish
http://kap.samhsa.gov/mli/docs/spanish/WhatIsTx-Spanish.pdfCoping
* If Someone Close...Has a Problem with Alcohol or Other Drugs(National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information) -
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/ph317/Specific Conditions
* Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome(American Academy of Family Physicians) -
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/alcohol/007.printerview.html Also available in Spanish
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/alcohol/007.printerview.html * Workplace Substance Abuse(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) -
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/substanceabuse/index.htmlRelated Issues
* Alcohol Induced Liver Disease(American Liver Foundation) -
http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/alcohol/ * Alcohol Poisoning(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) -
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcohol-poisoning/DS00861/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print * Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF -
http://captus.samhsa.gov/central/documents/4AdultChildrenofAlcoholics.pdf * PTSD and Problems with Alcohol Use(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs) -
http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_alcohol.html * Wernicke-Korsakoff SyndromeFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary -
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/wernicke_korsakoff/wernicke-korsakoff.htm * What People Recovering from Alcoholism Need to Know about OsteoporosisFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) -
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/default.aspHealth Check Tools
* Alcohol-Online Tests(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://www.atgetfit.net/alcohol/tests/default.aspx * Alcohol-Use Quiz: Drinking Too Much Carries High Costs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) -
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol/QZ00049Clinical Trials
* ClinicalTrials.gov: AlcoholismFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health) -
http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Alcoholism%22 * ClinicalTrials.gov: Substance-Related Disorders(National Institutes of Health) -
http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Substance-Related+Disorders%22Genetics
* Family History of Alcoholism: Are You at Risk?(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/FamilyHistory/famhist.htm Also available in Spanish
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/FamilySpanish/famhistspan.htmResearch
* Alcohol Abuse Makes Prescription Drug Abuse More LikelyFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Drug Abuse) -
http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/alcohol.html * Alcohol AlertsFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Publications/AlcoholAlerts/ * Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism)From the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - Links to PDF -
http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/AlcoholDependenceAlcoholism.pdf * Researchers Identify Alcoholism SubtypesFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/alcoholism_subtypes.htmJournal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
* Article: The CAGE questionnaire for detection of alcoholism: a remarkably useful... -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18984895&tool=MedlinePlus * Article: Screening for alcohol use and misuse in older adults: using... -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18946267&tool=MedlinePlus * Article: Cost and cost-effectiveness of the COMBINE study in alcohol-dependent patients. -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18838638&tool=MedlinePlus * Alcoholism -- see more articles -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=alcoholism[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
Directories
* Getting HelpFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/links/help.aspx * Single-State Agency (SSA) Directory(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2007/kit/Resources/single_state_agency.aspx * Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/Organizations
* Al-Anon/Alateen(Alateen, Al-Anon) -
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ * Alcoholics Anonymous -
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/ Also available in Spanish
http://www.aa.org/sp_index.cfm?Media=PlayFlash * National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence -
http://www.ncadd.org/ * National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismFrom the National Institutes of Health -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Law and Policy
* Are You in Recovery from Alcohol or Drug Problems? Know Your Rights(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Large PDF file -
http://www.pfr.samhsa.gov/docs/know_your_rights_01.pdfStatistics
* NewAmericans Believe in Prevention and Recovery from Addictions(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF -
http://www.samhsa.gov/Attitudes/CARAVAN_Factsheet.pdf * FASTATS: Alcohol Use(National Center for Health Statistics) -
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm * Frequency of Use among Alcohol-Only Treatment Admissions: 2006(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/alcTX/alcTX.htm * General Information on Alcohol Use and Health(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) -
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm * Quick Facts: Alcohol TopicsFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Resources/DatabaseResources/QuickFacts/ * Quick Statistics on Treatment Facilities and Client Admissions by State(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/Quick/Quick.htm * Substance Use and Dependence Following Initiation of Alcohol or Illicit Drug Use(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/newUseDepend/newUseDepend.htmTeenagers
* Coping with an Alcoholic Parent(Nemours Foundation) -
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/families/coping_alcoholic.html * Does Your Mom or Dad Drink Too Much?(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://csat.samhsa.gov/NACOA/feelssobad.aspxMen
* Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Man's Guide to Coping with the Effects of Childhood Abuse(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF -
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/HelpingHeal-Mens.pdf Also available in Spanish
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/HelpingHeal-Mens-spanish.pdf * Men's Health: Alcohol and Drug Abuse(National Women's Health Information Center) -
http://womenshealth.gov/mens/mental/achoholDrug.cfmWomen
* Alcohol: A Women's Health IssueFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) -
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm Also available in Spanish
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/WomenSpanish/Women_Spanish.pdf * Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Woman's Guide to Coping with Childhood Abuse Issues(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF -
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/HelpingHeal-Womens.pdf Also available in Spanish
http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/mli/docs/spanish/HelpingHealWomens-Spanish.pdfSeniors
* Alcohol Use and AbuseFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute on Aging) -
http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/alcohol.htm Also available in Spanish
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/Publicaciones/alcohol * Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) -
http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/aaac/aaac_intro_pg1.htm * Substance Abuse(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) -
http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=36You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:
* Alcohol and Youth -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholandyouth.html * Alcohol Consumption -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholconsumption.html * Cirrhosis -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cirrhosis.html * Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fetalalcoholsyndrome.html * Substance Abuse Problems -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/substanceabuseproblems.htmlThe primary NIH organization for research on Alcoholism is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Alcoholism - Multiple Languages -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/alcoholism.htmlDate last updated: November 21 2008
Topic last reviewed: August 20 2008
